Lath support



E. G. APPLETON LATH SUPPORT April 14, 1931.

Filed Oct. 19, 1925 11 I III!!! [werzifih [hast G @ple'ffira, 446, MW

Patented Apr. 14, 1931 UNITED STATES ERNST G. .APIPLETON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TO ROACH-APPLETON MANU- PATENT oFFier.

FACTUBIN'G COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLIITGTS, ACDBPQRATION OF TLLINOIS LATE surronr Application filed October 19, 1925. Serial N'o. 63,2414.

The present invention relates to lath supports.

In electric house wiring it is common practies to provide brackets or supports for eleca trio fixtures which brackets or supports are secured to the joists or studding of the building. Inasmuch as electric fixtures project through the plaster, it is necessary to interfere with the laths upon said joists or stud- 1o ding. Said laths are commonly left with their ends free, resulting in a very unsatisfactory structure.

An object of the present invention is to provide lath supporting means; which will i cooperate with electric fixture supporting means and with well secured laths to secure the free ends of other laths in position.

A further object is to provide lath supporting means which will cooperate with fixture supporting means and laths, as these devices are commonly known and used, to hold the free ends of said laths firmly in position. i l j A further object is to provide lath supporting meansfor bracing the free ends of certain laths by supporting same from other laths which may be firmly secured.

A further object is to provide a lath supporting means which is efiicient in operation a and cheap to manufacture.

Further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

Referring to'the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of the studding of a building, the laths supported thereby,

an outlet box with. its supporting means, and

the numerals 2-2 indicate laths, each of which is nailed or otherwise secured to adjacent studs. The numeral 3 indicates an out let box support, which support is carried by the elongated bar 4, which is secured to adj acent studs.

The outlet box support 3 is commonly of greater dimensionsin a plane parallel with the broad surface of the'laths 22 than the normal spacing between adjacent laths. According to the structure shown inFigure 1, the outlet box support 3 occupies space almost equivalent to the space occupied by two adj acent laths. In order to accommodate said outlet box supports, certain laths must be cut.

Such cut laths are indicated by the numerals 55. The ends of said laths 5--5 adjacent to the outlet box support 3 may be spaced a considerable distance from the nearest joist or studding 1, and the present invention con templates a simple device for supporting the free ends of said out laths 5-5.

Referring particularly to Figure 4, the numeral 6 indicates a sheet metal member, which should be galvanized, or treated in some other manner, to prevent corrosion. Said sheet'metal member is provided midway of itslength with the outstruck ears 7-7, which ears in cooperationwith the base portion ofthe member 6 are adapted to slidably-receive the bar 4. The numerals 88 indicate lips which are struck out from the metal of the member 1 a distance substantially equal to or a little more than the normal thickness of, builders lath. Said lips 8-8-haveoppositely projecting end portions 1 9-9 adapted to hold the laths 5-5 against lateral displacement. The numerals 1010 indicate outstrucklips having oppositely extending end portions 11-1l,"the end portion 11 of each lip 10 extendingin the samedirect'ion as the end portion 9 of the adjacent lip 8. The outstruck portions of each lip Sand the adjacent lip 10 are spaced apart a. distance, substantially equal to or slightly greater than ordinary builders lath. The

end portions 1111 of said lips 10-10 are spaced fromthe fiat. portion of the, member 6 a distance equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of ordinary builders lath. Said lips 8+8and 1010 are struck out at substantially right angles to the base portion .otthe member 6, and the end portions 9-9 and 1111 are disposed in a plane substantially parallel with the base portion of said member 6. e 1

In use, a pair of members 6-6 will be used upon each bar 4:, said bar being received will be mounted in holding relationship Though the described embodiment of the present invention provides means having with the lower lath 2, saidlower' lath being spaced three laths below the upper l'ath .2.

The outstruck lips 88 with their end portions 9 will receive the free extremities of the cut laths 5'5, other portions of said cut laths 5-5 being nailed or otherwise secured to the joists or studs 1-1=.

By reason of the present invention a simple structure is had which will support the ends of lath members when said ends are disposed intermediate of adjacent istuds or '1' oists.

holding relationship witha bar secured to the joists, as well as means having holding slidably supporting the members 66 upon engagement with laths which are secured to} adjacent joists, it will be clear that, if-preferred, the ears 77 for holding the member 6 upon the bar lmay be omitted, support for the intermediate laths beingderived solely from the laths 2 2,: which are secured to both of the joists 71- 1; Itis preferred, for practical reasons, however, to use'the ears 77 or equivalent holding means for the bard. If preferred, the means for holding' the lathe 2-2 may be omitted, support: for the lathe which terminate intermediate of adjacent studs being derived solely from the bar 4,though such a construction would pro-. vide much less rigidity thanthe structure shown in the drawings. Another modifica-.' tion'which falls within the scope of the invention is to omit the lips '10'10,' the baseportion of the member 6 abuttingiflatwise j all such modifications that fall within the scope of the appended claims; 7 'lVhatis claimedis i against the spacedlaths 2 2: The present invention is cheap to manufacture and is en 'fective in operation, v

7 Though a preferred embodiment has been described in detail, it willbe understood that i many modifications will occur to those skilled. in the art. It is intended to cover 1'. A' lath support comprising a member havingopposite end portions shapedto embrace spaced laths, and means struck out from said member vintermediate of said end portions for holding an intermediate lath, said member having an intermediate portion shaped for slidable holding engagement with an outlet box supporting bar.

2. A lath support comprising a member having means shaped to have sliding holding engagement with an outlet box supporting bar and having end portions shaped to embracespaced laths, an intermediate portion of said member being provided with a hookshaped projection for holding an intermediate lath disposed between said spaced laths.

3. In combination, an outlet box supporting bar and a sheet metal member slidably supported by said bar, said sheet metal member having a base portion and a portion struck from said base portionintermediate of the lengththereof for'embracing said bar,

saidf sheet metal member havingears struck therefromadj acent to the extremities thereof, each of sai'd'ears'having an end portion lying in a plane substantially parallel to said base portion and forming'with said base portion an open-ended slot, said sheet metal member being shaped intermediate of its length to receive andsupport a lath. V 4. In combination, anoutlet box support *b'ar,-a sheet metal member slidably supported bysaid bar, saidisheet metal member having;v

ears struck therefrom having end portions each ly'ing ina plane substantially parallel to I said base portion and spaced from'saidbase portion asufiijcient distance to receive alath,

said ears-extending'in a direction transverse to said bar and providing'with said base portion open ended slots opening in opposite directions toward the-ends of'said member,

,said sheet-metal'memberbeing provided with an ear intermediate of said first= ears adapted to embrace a'lath.

entioned 5. In combination, adjacent studs, a meal bar connected to said studs, spaced laths, each connected to saidstuds,laths'intermediateof said spaced laths, said intermediate lathe having end portions disposed betweensaid studs, andfmeans for holding said ends of said intermediatelaths, said meanscompris ing a, metal memberihaving embracing'relati'onship with said: spac ed laths and having portions for receiving and holding said ends ofsaid intermediate laths, said member also having a portion havi g slidingrelationship withsaidbar." I

6. In combination, adjacent joists, spaced laths each connected :toQsaid joists, a. lathintermediate of said spaced laths, said-intermediate lath having an; intermediate portion disposed between said joists, an-.;outletbox; supporting bar secured'to said joists between v ,sai-d spaced lathsfand a metal member for holding said end portion ofsaidiintermedifate lath, said metal member being shaped intermediate of itsends toreceive said intermedi ate lath and having a struck out portion for slidably receiving said bar, said metal member being also provided with ears adjacent to its extremities for embracing said spaced laths.

7. In combination, adjacent joists, spaced laths each connected to said joists, a lath intermediate of said spaced laths, said intermediate lath having an end portion disposed between said joists, and means for holding said end portion of said intermediate lath, said means comprising a metal member having end portions shaped to embrace said spaced laths, said metal member being shaped intermediate of its length to provide a slot for receiving said intermediate lath, said metal member also being shaped intermediate of its length to embrace an outlet box supporting bar.

8. In combination, adjacent joists, a metal outlet box supporting bar connected to said joists, spaced laths each connected to said joists, a pair of laths intermediate of said spaced laths, said intermediate laths having end portions disposed between said joists, and means for holding said end portions of said intermediate laths, said means comprising a metal member having ears struck therefrom providing open-ended slots for receiving said end portions of said intermediate laths, said member also having struck out portions having holding engagement With said bar and having end portions embracing said spaced laths.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 12th day of October, 1925.

ERNST G. APPLETON. 

